Lithuania

Lithuania Allocates €24.2 Million to Strengthen Riflemen’s Union in 2026

Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence has allocated €24.2 million for the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union in 2026, supporting expanded civil resistance training, new equipment procurement, and deeper integration with the armed forces.

Chris Patkin

09 Jan 2026 — 1 min read

Photo: Linas Idzelis - LRT

Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence has earmarked €24.2 million in funding for the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union in 2026, underscoring the organisation’s expanding role in national defence and civil resistance planning.

The agreement was signed on Thursday by Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas and Colonel Linas Idzelis, commander of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union.

Speaking after the signing, Kaunas said the funding reflects a deliberate policy to further integrate the Riflemen’s Union into Lithuania’s overall defence architecture. He stressed that close cooperation with the Lithuanian Armed Forces remains the core priority, particularly joint training and collective defence tasks in the event of a crisis.

Expanding roles and capabilities

According to Idzelis, the organisation’s budget has been increasing steadily in recent years and could reach €30 million annually in the future as responsibilities expand. The 2026 funding will be used to support:

civil resistance and defence-skills training in schools and companies
procurement of drones, ammunition, and laser-based training systems
renovation and modernization of the union’s headquarters
personnel expansion to support a broader operational task set

Idzelis noted that the Riflemen’s Union is increasingly being integrated into Lithuania’s commandant system, enabling closer alignment with military structures at the territorial level.

“Military training is being taken very seriously,” Idzelis said, adding that the new agreement represents a binding commitment to significantly scale up activities compared to previous years, including participation in joint exercises with the armed forces.

Long-term growth ambitions

The Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union currently counts around 18,000 members. Idzelis confirmed plans to expand membership to 50,000 by 2035, a target Defence Minister Kaunas described as ambitious but achievable through gradual and sustained development.

As a voluntary paramilitary civic organisation, the Riflemen’s Union plays a dual role in Lithuania’s security framework: enhancing national defence readiness while strengthening civic resilience and societal involvement in defence.

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